Hair dye preparation

ABSTRACT

PCT No. PCT/EP89/00771 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 14, 1991 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 14, 1991 PCT Filed Jul. 5, 1989 PCT Pub. No. WO90/00386 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 25, 1990.Liquid preparations for oxidation hair dyes, which contain soaps, water-soluble cationic polymers and hair dye intermediates in an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic carrier, can be stabilized by amines corresponding to formula (C)   &lt;IMAGE&gt; (C)  in which R1 is a C8-22 alkyl group, R2 is hydrogen or a C8-22 alkyl group, R3 is hydrogen except when r=q=0 and then is C1-4 alkyl, and m, n, o, p, q and r are numbers of 0 to 6.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a liquid preparation for oxidation hair dyes.Preparations of the type in question consist of hair dye intermediatesand a carrier suitable for application to the hair. Preferred carriersare cream-form emulsions of the water-in-oil type and aqueous oraqueous-alcoholic solutions of soaps.

2. Statement of Related Art

After addition to the aqueous solution of the oxidizing agent requiredto develop the oxidation dyes, oxidation hair dye bases of the type inquestion based on liquid, aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic soap solutionsform a thickly liquid to gel-like, ready-to-use hair dye preparation.

It is also known that water-soluble cationic polymers can be added tohair dye preparations. The hair-cosmetic properties of the treated hairare improved in this way. At the same time, a hair-conditioning effectis obtained.

However, difficulties are involved in the production of liquidpreparations for oxidation hair dyes containing soaps and cationicpolymers because preparations such as these tend to become inhomogeneousand, in some cases, to become cloudy and to form precipitates andsediments immediately after their production or after prolonged storage.In addition, the hair-conditioning effect of the product is lost throughinteraction of the cationic polymer with the soap.

On the other hand, however, oxidation hair dye preparations based onliquid, aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic soap solutions represent anadvantageous form of conditioning because, after addition to the aqueoussolution of the oxidizing agent, they form a thickly liquid to gel-formdye preparation which adheres to the hair after application.

In order, therefore, to enable soaps and cationic polymers to beincorporated in hair dye bases, it was proposed in DE-OS 35 00 877 touse either dicarboxylic acids in the form of their water-soluble saltsor amines corresponding to general formula (D) ##STR2## in which R¹ is aC₈₋₂₂ alkyl group and R⁴ and R⁵ independently of one another representhydrogen or an acyl group having the formula R⁶ --COO--, where R⁶ is aC_(1<) alkyl or alkenyl group; b=2 or 3; and x and y are numbers of 0 to5, the sum (x+y) being from 2 to 6, in order to stabilize theformulations.

Although the aqueous systems containing soap and cationic polymer can bestabilized by the substances mentioned with the conditioning propertiesof the cationic polymers intact, there remains the disadvantage thatrelatively high concentrations, particularly of the amine, have to beused to obtain the high viscosities required for stabilization.

Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to findstabilizing substances which, even when used in relatively lowconcentrations, would lead to a high increase in the viscosity of theformulation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now surprisingly been found that certain amines having astructure differing from the amines of formula (D) exhibit the desiredproperties.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a liquid preparation foroxidation hair dyes--consisting of hair dye intermediates and an aqueousor aqueous-alcoholic carrier--containing soaps (A) and water-solublecationic polymers (B), characterized in that they contain aminescorresponding to formula (C) ##STR3## in which R¹ is a C₈₋₂₂ alkylgroup,

R² is hydrogen or a C_(8>) alkyl group,

R³ is hydrogen except when r=q=0 and then is C₁₋₄ alkyl, and

m, n, o, p, q and r are numbers of 0 to 6,

for stabilization.

It has also surprisingly been found that a synergistic effect in regardto the increase in viscosity occurs when the amines mentioned are usedin combination with amines corresponding to general formula (D) ##STR4##in which R⁴ and R⁵ independently of one another represent

or an acyl group having the formula R⁶ --COO--, where R⁶ is a C₁₋₂₁alkyl or alkenyl group; b=2 or 3; and x and y are numbers of 0 to 5, thesum (x+y) being from 2 to 6.

Accordingly, liquid preparations for oxidation hair dyes containing acombination of amines (C) with amines (D) for stabilization arepreferred.

Amines corresponding to formula (C) are already known as surfactantsfrom DE-OS 35 04 242. However, there is no reference in this publicationto any stabilizing effect on solutions containing soaps in addition tocationic polymers. According to the teaching of the cited publication,the amines corresponding to formula (C) may readily be obtained byreaction of, for example, hydroxyethyl dialkyl amines, hydroxypropyldialkyl amines, dihydroxyalkyl alkyl amines or trihydroxyalkyl amineswith sulfuric acid semiesters corresponding to the formula R⁷ --{[OC₂ H₄]_(t),[OC₃ H₆ ]_(z) }--OSO₃ --H, where R⁷ is a C₈₋₂₂ alkyl group and tand z independently of one another are numbers of 0 to 6, with theproviso that t and z are not both 0, or alkali or alkaline earth metalsalts thereof, in the presence of strong bases. Particulars of thisproduction process can be found in the disclosure of the citedpublication.

In addition, hydroxyl-terminated amines may be directly reacted withethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide by known methods carried out atelevated temperature and elevated pressure using typical catalysts, suchas sodium methylate. The amines obtained are also terminated by hydroxylgroups which, if desired, may be further reacted, for example withsulfuric acid semiesters, by the process described above.

It is known to one skilled in the art that alkoxylation reactions, suchas for example the addition of n moles ethylene oxide onto 1 mole of acompound containing an active hydrogen atom by known ethoxylationprocesses, do not give an individual adduct, but instead a mixture ofresidual quantities of free starting compound and a number of homologous(oligomeric) adducts of 1, 2, 3, . . .n, n+1, n+2 . . . etc. moleculesof ethylene oxide per molecule of starting compound. The average degreeof ethoxylation (n) is defined by the starting quantities of compoundcontaining an active hydrogen atom and ethylene oxide. The distributioncurve of the homolog mixture generally has a maximum in the range fromn-3 to n+3. More detailed information on these points can be found, forexample, in the journal Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties, January1988, page 34.

Accordingly, where the products mentioned in this text have beenproduced by addition of ethylene oxide and/ or propylene oxide ontocorresponding starting compounds and used without further fractionationof the product mixture, the degrees of alkoxylation mentioned are theaverage degrees of alkoxylation of the product mixture present.

Particularly good stabilizing effects are exhibited by amines in whichR¹ is a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R² is hydrogen or a C₁₆₋₁₈ group; and R³ ishydrogen or, where r=q=0, is methyl; and m, o, r are numbers of 0 to 3and n, p, q are numbers of 0 to 1.5. The better stabilizing effects arenormally shown by amines of which the degrees of ethoxylation and/orpropoxylation are in the lower range of the values indicated for theindices m to r.

So far as the terminal alkyl chains are concerned, the amines may beboth individual products and also mixtures. Mixtures will generally bepresent when natural, renewable raw materials, such as oils and fats,are used as the source for these alkyl groups. Thus, amines containing amixture of cetyl and stearyl groups, in a ratio of 1:4 to 2:1, as thealkyl groups, of the type obtainable for example from vegetable oranimal tallow, show very good stabilizing properties. Accordingly,particularly preferred amines for the purposes of the present inventionare, for example,

    (cetyl/stearyloxyethyl)-dihydroxyethyl amine               (C1),

    bis-(cetyl/stearyloxyethyl)-hydroxyethyl amine             (C2)

also compounds corresponding to the following formulae ##STR5##

In the above formulae, C_(16/18) H_(33/37) stands for mixtures of alkylgroups consisting predominantly of cetyl (C₁₆ H₃₃) and stearyl (C₁₈ H₃₇)groups.

Amines corresponding to formula (D) above, in which R¹, R⁴, R⁵, b, x andy are as defined above, may be obtained from primary C₈₋₂₂ fatty aminesby addition of (x+y) moles ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, forexample in accordance with DE-PS 552 268.

Both pure fatty amines and also mixtures of fatty amines may be used forthis purpose. Amine mixtures obtained by known methods from natural fatsand oils are preferably used. Coconut oil alkyl amine is mentioned as anexample. Fatty amines corresponding to general formula (D), in which R⁴and R⁵ represent hydrogen, are initially obtained by addition ofethylene oxide or propylene oxide onto the fatty amines mentioned. Theseproducts may be converted into the products corresponding to generalformula (D), in which R⁴ and R⁵ represent an acyl group having theformula R⁶ --COO--, by esterification with carboxylic acids having thegeneral formula R⁶ -COOH, in which R⁶ is a C₁₋₂₁ alkyl group, or withmethyl esters or acid chlorides of these carboxylic acids. Numerousproducts corresponding to general formula (D) are commerciallyavailable. An adduct of 3 moles ethylene oxide with a C₁₂₋₁₄ fattyalcohol is marketed, for example, under the name LOWENOL®C-243. Abis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-soybean alkyl amine dioleate is available under thename LOWENOL®S-216. Other fatty amine alkoxylates are commerciallyavailable under the names ARAPHEN®GENAMIN®, MARLAZIN®and LUTENSOL®.

Preferred soaps (A) are water-soluble soaps of fatty acids. Fatty acidswhich are liquid at 20° C. are particularly suitable for this purpose.Fatty acids such as these are, for example, unsaturated linear fattyacids, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, erucic acidor liquid mixtures of these fatty acids with one another and with smallamounts of saturated, linear C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids. Other particularlysuitable liquid fatty acids are branched fatty acids, for example2-hexyldecanoic acid, 2-octyldodecanoic acid, or isostearic acid.

Alkali hydroxides and alkali carbonates, ammonia and mono-, di- andtri-alkanolamines containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkanol groupare suitable for converting the fatty acids into water-soluble soaps.Oleic acid in the form of the ammonium, mono-, di- andtri-ethanolammonium soap is particularly suitable.

In principle, the water-soluble cationic polymers (B) may be anypolymers having a molecular weight in the range from 1,000 to 3,000,000which either contain free or alkyl-substituted amino groups orquaternary ammonium groups in the polymer chain or bear primary,secondary or tertiary amino groups or quaternary ammonium groupsattached to the polymer chain either directly or by intermediatemembers. These amino groups or quaternary ammonium groups may also bemembers of 5- or 6- membered ring systems, for example the morpholine,pyridine, piperazine, or imidazole ring system. Numerous examples ofsuch water-soluble cationic polymers can be found, for example, in DE-OS28 11 010. In addition, many other water-soluble cationic polymers areknown from the literature.

Water-soluble homopolymers or copolymers (Bl) containing unitscorresponding to the following general formula ##STR6## in which R⁸ andR⁹ are C₁₋₄ alkyl groups or C₂₋₄ hydroxyalkyl groups and X.sup.(-) is achloride, bromide, hydrogen sulfate, methoxysulfate, phosphate, oracetate ion, are particularly suitable. Examples of cationic polymers ofthis type are, for example, the commercial products MERQUAT®100 andMERQUAT®550 (Quaternium 41). The production of these polymers is known,for example, from DE-OS 21 09 081.

Other particularly suitable cationic polymers are cellulose ethers (B2),of which the anhydroglucose units contain 1 to 3 substituents containingquaternary ammonium groups which are attached by ether oxygen. Polymerssuch as these are known, for example, from DE-OS 15 93 657. A commercialproduct of this type is, for example, POLYMER JR®400.

The quaternary polymeric urea derivatives (B3) known from U.S. Pat. No.4,157,388 are also particularly suitable. A commercially availableproduct of this type is MIRAPOL®A15 which consists of structural unitscorresponding to the following general formula ##STR7## the averagedegree of polymerization being approximately 6.

According to the invention, preferred liquid preparations are thosewhich contain 1 to 30% by weight soaps (A), 0.5 to 10% by weightwater-soluble cationic polymers (B), 0.1 to 20% by weight and moreparticularly 0.5 to 10% by weight amines (C) and 0 to 20% by weight andmore particularly 0 to 5% by weight amines (D).

In addition to the carrier components mentioned, the hair dyepreparations according to the invention contain oxidation hair dyeintermediates. The known dye bases or primary intermediate compounds andknown modifiers or coupler compounds are used as the oxidation dyeintermediates. The oxidation dyes are formed by oxidative coupling ofone or more primary intermediate components with one another or with oneor more coupler components in the presence of an oxidizing agent. Theprimary intermediates used are normally primary aromatic aminescontaining another free or substituted hydroxy or amino group in thepara- or ortho-position, diaminopyridine derivatives, heterocyclichydrazone derivatives, 4-aminopyrazolone derivatives, ortetraaminopyrimidines. The so-called couplers used are, for example,m-phenylenediamine derivatives, phenols, naphthols, resorcinolderivatives, or pyrazolones. The hair dye preparations according to theinvention may contain the oxidation hair dye intermediates in a quantityof 0.05 to 5.0% by weight and preferably in a quantity of 0.2 to 2.0% byweight.

The hair dye preparations according to the invention may containsynthetic anionic, nonionic, ampholytic or zwitterionic surfactants inquantities of up to 20% by weight as further auxiliaries. Suitableauxiliaries of this type are, for example, linear alkyl sulfatescontaining 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, alkyl polyglycolether sulfates containing 12 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and 1to 6 glycol ether groups in the molecule, fatty alcohol polyglycolethers obtained by addition of 6 to 20 moles ethylene oxide onto C₁₀₋₁₈fatty alcohols, adducts of 6 to 20 moles ethylene oxide with nonyl ordodecyl phenol, fatty alkyl dimethyl amine oxides, fatty acid mono- ordi-ethanolamines, N-fatty alkyl diethyl glycine, N-fatty alkylaminopropionic acid and other known surfactants.

In addition, the hair dye preparations according to the invention maycontain 0 to 20% by weight C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty alcohols, for example coconutoil fatty alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol,oleyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol in emulsified form. Synthetic branchedalcohols, for example 2-octyl dodecanol, 2-hexyl decanol, isostearylalcohol, isohexadecyl alcohol, are also suitable.

The hair dye preparations according to the invention preferably containlower C₁₋₄ alcohols and/or lower C₂₋₆ glycols, for example ethanol,isopropanol, n-propanol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, methylglycol, ethyl glycol, butyl glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropyleneglycol, or hexylene glycol. These lower alcohols or glycols arepreferably present in the preparations in a total quantity of 1 to 30%by weight. The addition of these lower alcohols and/or polyols keeps thepreparations thinly liquid and readily processable at 20° C.

A thickly liquid to gel-form, ready-to-use hair dye preparation is onlyformed after the addition of a substantially equivalent quantity ofwater or aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, which is carried outshortly before application to the hair to develop the dye.

In addition to the components mentioned above, the hair dye preparationsaccording to the invention also contain the additives typically presentin oxidation dye bases of the type in question for stabilizing theoxidation dye intermediates. Such additives are complexing agents, forexample ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid,1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, or other organodiphosphonic acidsin the form of their alkali salts; antioxidants, such as for examplesodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, hydroquinone or salts of thioglycolicacid or ascorbic acid; buffer salts, for example ammonium sulfate,ammonium carbonate, ammonium citrate, and ammonia or an alkanolamine forestablishing a pH value in the range from 8 to 10.

The following Examples are intended to illustrate the invention withlimiting it in any way.

EXAMPLES I Preparation of the amines (C) a) Amine C1

21 kg SULFOPON®T55 (tallow fatty acid alcohol sulfate sodium salt,essentially C₁₆ and C₁₈ alkyl chains in a ratio of 30:70, activesubstance content about 55%) were added in portions in a water jetvacuum at temperatures of around 80° to 100° C. to 10.7 kg (72 moles)triethanolamine and dehydrated in the process. After purging withnitrogen gas, 1.46 kg (36.5 moles) NaOH were added. The mixture was thenheated for 5 hours at 170° C. and subsequently cooled to 90° C.

After the product had been washed with hot water and impurities andsecondary products removed by application of vacuum at about 110° C.,amine C1 was obtained in a yield of 12.5 kg (99.7% of the theoretical).The amine value of the product was 135.1 (calculated 136.0).

b) Amine C2

13.4 kg SULFOPON®T55 (tallow fatty alcohol sulfate salt, essentially C₁₆and C₁₈ alkyl chains in a ratio of 30:70, active substance content about55%) were added at about 85° C. to 8.0 kg amine Cl. The water present inthe mixture was then distilled off in vacuo at around 100° C. Afteraddition of 0.8 kg NaOH, the reaction time was 3 hours at 170° C. in anitrogen atmosphere. After the product had been washed with hot waterand impurities and secondary products removed by application of a vacuumat around 110° C., amine C2 was obtained in a yield of 94.2% of thetheoretical. The amine value of the product was 84 (calc. 83.4).

c) Amine C3

c1) 10.4 kg (70 moles) triethanolamine, 20 kg (58.3 moles) LANETTE®E(sodium cetyl stearyl (1:1) sulfate, min. 90% active substance) and 2.8kg NaOH were reacted in the same way as in a). 16.2 kg of the productwere reacted with 14.9 kg LANETTE®E and 2.09 kg NaOH in the same way asin b). The amine value of the product obtained was 84 (calc. 94).

c2) To 676 g (1 mole) of the product thus obtained, in an autoclave,were added 5.1 g sodium methylate solution (0.2% by weight sodiummethylate, based on the total quantity of starting materials, amine andethylene oxide). The autoclave was then purged with nitrogen andevacuated for 30 minutes at 100° C. 88 g (2 moles) ethylene oxide werethen introduced under a pressure of 5 bar and at a temperature of 150°C. Following an after-reaction lasting 30 minutes, the residual ethyleneoxide was removed at 75° C. by application of a vacuum. The yield ofamine C3 was 755 g 99% of the theoretical). The amine value of theproduct was 73 (calc. 82).

d) Amine C4

In an autoclave, 746 g triethanolamine were reacted with 440 g ethyleneoxide in the presence of 2.9 g sodium methylate solution as catalyst ata temperature of 150° C. and under a pressure of 5 bar in the same wayas in c2). A total of 1446 g (4.22 moles) LANETTE®E and 169 g (4.22moles) NaOH were added in portions in equivalent quantities to 500 g(2.11 moles) of the product at 150 to 175° C. The product formedthereafter served as solvent, so that the reaction mixture remainedstirrable. After the last portion of LANETTE®E and NaOH had been added,the after-reaction time was 3 hours at 175° C. The reaction mixture wasthen worked up as in a). Amine C4 was obtained as the end product in ayield of 85% of the theoretical. The amine value of the product was 83.1(calc. 82.1).

e) Amine C5

Triethanolamine was reacted with twice the molar quantity of propyleneoxide as in c2). 530.4 g (2 moles) of the product thus obtained werereacted with four portions of 343 g (1 mole) LANETTE®E and 40 g (1 mole)NaOH. After the water had been removed in vacuo, the reaction time was 3hours at 150° C. The reaction mixture was worked up as in a). 1205 g(85% of the theoretical) of amine C5 were obtained as the end product.The amine value of the product was 76.5 (calc. 78.8).

II. Performance Test

Preparations having the following composition were tested:

    ______________________________________                                        Component               Parts by weight                                       ______________________________________                                        Oleic acid              1.5                                                   TEXAPON ®N 25.sup.1 4.0                                                   DEHYTON ®K.sup.2    3.0                                                   POLYMER JR ®400.sup.3                                                                             1.0                                                   Amine (C).sup.4         see Table 1                                           Amine (D).sup.5         see Table 1                                           Propylene glycol         2.15                                                 Dye intermediates                                                             resorcinol               0.24                                                 4-chlororesorcinol       0.11                                                 p-aminophenol hydrochloride                                                                            0.06                                                 2,4-dichloro-3-aminophenol hydrochloride                                                               0.035                                                p-phenylenediamine       0.26                                                 Stabilizing components                                                        ammonium sulfate         0.75                                                 TURPINAL ®SL.sup.6  0.2                                                   sodium sulfite          0.5                                                   sodium ascorbate        0.5                                                   Conc. ammonia           to pH 10                                              Water                   ad 100                                                ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 TEXAPON ®N 25: C.sub.12-14 fatty alcohol +2 ethylene oxide         sulfate, sodium salt (28% by weight water) (Henkel)                           .sup.2 DEHYTON ®K: fatty acid amide derivative of coconut oil having      betaine structure and corresponding to the formula                            R--CONH--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.2 --CH.sub.2               --COO.sup.-  (about 30 by weight in water) (Henkel)                           .sup.3 POLYMER JR ®400: cationic cellulose derivative (Union Carbide)     .sup.4 Amine (C): compound C2                                                 .sup.5 Amine (D): coconut oil alkyl amine +2 ethylene oxide obtainable by     addition of 2 moles ethylene oxide with coconut oil alkyl amine, for          example in accordance with DEOS 552 268                                       .sup.6 TURPINAL ®SL: hydroxyethane1,1-diphosphonicacid (Henkel)      

To produce the oxidation hair dye preparation, TEXAPON®DEHYTON®K, oleicacid, propylene glycol and, optionally, amine (C) and/or amine (D) werefirst mixed and then heated in a water bath to approximately 80 C.(mixture A). The dye intermediates were mixed and dissolved in 10 partsby weight distilled water at 90° C. with addition of 0.5 to 2 parts byweight concentrated ammonia solution (mixture B). The stabilizer saltswere also mixed and 0.2 part by weight concentrated ammonia solution wasadded. The TURPINAL®SL was then added together with distilled water at90° C., after which more distilled water was added to the solution untilit contained a total of 10 parts by weight water. A clear solution ofthe salts and the complexing agent was formed (mixture C).

First mixture C and then mixture B were then introduced with stirringinto mixture A. 20 parts by weight of a 5% by weight solution of POLYMERJR®400 (corresponding to 1 part by weight active substance) were thenadded with stirring, the viscosity of the mixture increasingsignificantly. Finally, the mixture was made up to a total of 100 partsby weight with distilled water.

These hair dye preparations are low-viscosity to medium-viscosityliquids of which the viscosities were determined with a Haake-RotoviskoRV 12 viscosimeter at 20° C.

The results are shown in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                                     Formu-  Formu-    Formu-                                                      lation l                                                                              lation 2  lation 3                                       ______________________________________                                        Parts by weight amine (C)                                                                    --        5.4       5.4                                        Parts by weight amine (D)                                                                    2.0       --        2.0                                        Viscosity (mPas)                                                                             700       2000      11100                                      ______________________________________                                    

Corresponding formulations which contained neither amine (C) nor amine(D) were not stable.

The results clearly reflect the stabilizing effect obtained by usingamines (C) according to the invention as a result of the buildup ofviscosity.

In addition, the synergistic effect obtained where these amines arecombined with amines of formula (D) is clearly apparent.

After mixing 1 part by weight of formulations 1 to 3 with 1 part byweight of 6% by weight hydrogen peroxide solution, only formulations 2and 3 showed entirely satisfactory adhesion to hair.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid preparation of oxidation hair dyescomprising hair dye intermediates and an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholiccarrier containing soaps (A) and water-soluble cationic polymers (B),wherein the improvement comprises the stabilization of the preparationby the presence therein of amines corresponding to formula (C): ##STR8##in which m, n, o, p, q and r are numbers of 0 to 6,R¹ is a C₈₋₂₂ alkylgroup, R² is hydrogen or a C_(8>) alkyl group, R³ is hydrogen exceptwhen r=q=0 and then is C₁₋₄ alkyl, and if m=n=0, R² and R³ are not bothhydrogen.
 2. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 1, additionallystabilized by the present of amines corresponding to formula (D):##STR9## in which R¹ has the same meaning as in claim 1 and R⁴ and R⁵independently of one another represent hydrogen or an acyl group havingthe formula R⁶ --COO--, where R⁶ is a C₁₋₂₁ alkyl or alkenyl group; b=2or 3; and x and y are numbers of 0 to 5, the sum (x+Y) being from 2 to6.
 3. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 2, comprisingwater-soluble soaps of C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids as the soaps (A) and apolymeric quaternary ammonium compound selected from the groupconsisting of:(B1) water-soluble homopolymers and copolymers containingunits corresponding to the following general formula ##STR10## in whichR⁸ and R⁹ are C₁₋₄ alkyl groups or C₂₋₄ hydroxyalkyl groups andX.sup.(-) is a chloride, bromide, hydrogen sulfate, methoxysulfate,phosphate, or acetate ion; (B2) cellulose ethers of which theanhydroglucose units bear 1-3 substituents containing quaternaryammonium groups which are attached by ether oxygen, (B3) polymericquaternary urea derivatives containing units corresponding to thefollowing general formula: ##STR11## as the water-soluble cationicpolymer (B).
 4. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 3, comprising:1to 30% by weight soaps (A), 0.05 to 10% by weight water-soluble cationicpolymers (B), 0.1 to 20% by weight amines (C), and not more than 20% byweight amines (D).
 5. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 4,comprising:1 to 30% by weight soaps (A), 0.05 to 10% by weightwater-soluble cationic polymers (B), 0.05 to 10% by weight amines (C),and not more than 5% by weight amines (D).
 6. A liquid preparation asclaimed in claim 5, comprising amines corresponding to formula (C) inwhich R¹ is a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R² is hydrogen or a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkylgroup; R³ is hydrogen or, if r=q=0, a methyl radical; m, o, and r arenumbers of 0 to 3; n, p, and q are numbers of 0 to 1.5; and if m=n=0, R²and R³ are not both hydrogen.
 7. A liquid preparation as claimed inclaim 6, comprising molecules selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alcohols and C₂₋₆ glycols in a total quantity of 1 to 30% by weight. 8.A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 7, additionally comprisingmolecules selected from the group consisting of anionic, zwitterionic,and nonionic surfactants in a total quantity of 1 to 20% by weight.
 9. Aliquid preparation as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soaps (A) areselected from the group consisting of ammonium oleate and mono-, di-,and tri-ethanolammonium oleate.
 10. A liquid preparation as claimed inclaim 1, comprising water-soluble soaps of C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids as thesoaps (A) and a polymeric quaternary ammonium compound selected from thegroup consisting of:(B1) water-soluble homopolymers and copolymerscontaining units corresponding to the following general formula:##STR12## in which R⁸ and R⁹ are C₁₋₄ alkyl groups or C₂₋₄ hydroxyalkylgroups and X.sup.(-) is a chloride, bromide, hydrogen sulfate,methoxysulfate, phosphate, or acetate ion; (B2) cellulose ethers ofwhich the anhydroglucose units bear 1-3 substituents containingquaternary ammonium groups which are attached by ether oxygen, (B3)polymeric quaternary urea derivatives containing units corresponding tothe following general formula: ##STR13## as the water-soluble cationicpolymer (B).
 11. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 2,comprising:1 to 30% by weight soaps (A), 0.05 to 10% by weightwater-soluble cationic polymers (B), 0.05 to 10% by weight amines (C),and not more than 5% by weight amines (D).
 12. A liquid preparation asclaimed in claim 1, comprising:1 to 30% by weight soaps (A), 0.05 to 10%by weight water-soluble cationic polymers (B), 0.05 to 10% by weightamines (C), and not more than 5% by weight amines (D).
 13. A liquidpreparation as claimed in claim 12, comprising amines corresponding toformula (C) in which R¹ is a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R² is hydrogen or aC₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R³ is hydrogen or, if r=q=0, a methyl radical; m, o,and r are numbers of 0 to 3; n, p, and q are numbers of 0 to 1.5; and ifm=n=0, R² and R³ are not both hydrogen.
 14. A liquid preparation asclaimed in claim 11, comprising amines corresponding to formula (C) inwhich R¹ is a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R² is hydrogen or a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkylgroup; R³ is hydrogen or, if r=q=0, a methyl radical; m, o, and r arenumbers of 0 to 3; n, p, and q are numbers of 0 to 1.5; and if m=n=0, R²and R³ are not both hydrogen.
 15. A liquid preparation as claimed inclaim 2, comprising amines corresponding to formula (C) in which R¹ is aC₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R² is hydrogen or a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R³ ishydrogen or, if r=q=0, a methyl radical; m, o, and r are numbers of 0 to3; n, p, and q are numbers of 0 to 1.5; and if m=n=0, R² and R³ are notboth hydrogen.
 16. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 1,comprising amines corresponding to formula (C) in which R¹ is a C₁₆₋₁₈alkyl group; R² is hydrogen or a C₁₆₋₁₈ alkyl group; R³ is hydrogen or,if r=q=0, a methyl radical; m, o, and r are numbers of 0 to 3; n, p, andq are numbers of 0 to 1.5; and if m=n=0, R² and R³ are not bothhydrogen.
 17. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 1, comprisingmolecules selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄ alcohols and C₂₋₆glycols in a total quantity of 1 to 30% by weight.
 18. A liquidpreparation as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising moleculesselected from the group consisting of anionic, zwitterionic, andnonionic surfactants in a total quantity of 1 to 20% by weight.
 19. Aliquid preparation as claimed in claim 2, comprising:1 to 30% by weightsoaps (A), 0.05 to 10% by weight water-soluble cationic polymers (B),0.1 to 20% by weight amines (C), and not more than 20% by weight amines(D).
 20. A liquid preparation as claimed in claim 1, comprising:1 to 30%by weight soaps (A), 0.05 to 10% by weight water-soluble cationicpolymers (B), 0.01 to 20% by weight amines (C), and not more than 20% byweight amines (D).